NOTEBOOK : PADRES UPDATE : Padre Farm System Gets Good Marks From Scouting Bureau

The Padres’ farm system, which has taken plenty of abuse the past few years for its shortage of prospects, has been rated one of the top minor-league organizations in baseball.

The Major League Scouting Bureau, which annually judges each club’s minor-league system, reports that the Padres have 31 major-league prospects, believed to be the third-highest total in baseball.

It’s a far cry from a year ago when the Padres had only 18 prospects, the second-lowest in baseball.

What gives?

“I think what you’re seeing now is that guys who were hurt last year, are healthy again,” said Randy Smith, the Padres director of scouting. “We had an awful lot of of guys who were hurt last year, and people didn’t realize that.

“It think this also is a reflection of our 1990 draft. We have six prospects from that draft who weren’t prospects a year ago.

“Things are looking up.”

The influx of talent should also end any speculation that Smith’s job is in jeopardy. There is no validity to the rumors that Larry Corrigan of the Minnesota Twins will replace Smith at the end of the season, according to Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager.

McIlvaine, in fact, said he’s pleased with Smith’s performance and is expected to renew Smith’s contract at the end of the season.

Bob Gebhard, assistant general manager of the Minnesota Twins, might have lost in the Padres’ general manager sweepstakes last fall, but there was no question who came away the winner in the third-base derby.

When the Twins lost free agent third baseman Gary Gaetti to the Angels, they had a decision to make. Do they sign Jim Presley, the Atlanta Braves’ free agent? Or do they sign Mike Pagliarulo, the Padres’ free agent.

The Twins chose Pagliarulo, whom the Padres had no interest in signing. The Padres went after Presley.

Well, Presley is long gone from the Padre organization, playing in triple-A Oklahoma City for the Texas Rangers. Pagliarulo has become a mainstay in the Twins’ pennant drive.

Pagliarulo, who is platooning at third base, is batting .297 with 18 doubles.

“It’s unbelievable what he’s done for us,” Gebhard said. “There’s not a harder worker on our team. And what a competitor. He’s one of our leaders in the clubhouse.

“It’s funny how things work out. We knew the Padres weren’t happy with him, and we heard things, and that’s why it came down to between Pags and Presley.

“I think we made the right choice.”

Although it was difficult to overlook Shane Mack of the Minnesota Twins, the ex-Padre Player of the Week must go to starting pitcher Walt Terrell of the Detroit Tigers.

Terrell, traded during the 1989 season for Pagliarulo and pitcher Don Schulze (now in Japan), has become one of the primary reasons the Tigers are tied for first in the American League East.

Terrell, the same guy who was on the verge of being released in June, is 5-1 with a 3.80 ERA since the All-Star break. He pitched a six-hit shutout Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox and has two shutouts in the past 10 days.

Considering he was 4-9 with a 4.69 ERA a year ago, does he now look forward to each start?

“I always looked forward to each start,” he said. “It’s my teammates and coaches who weren’t looking forward to them.”

The Padres still are hopeful, if not confident that they’ll be able to sign their No. 1 draft choice, pitcher Joey Hamilton of Georgia Southern.

Although the Padres still have not budged from their last offer of $350,000, and Hamilton is seeking in excess of $700,000, there are no indications Hamilton will receive more on the open market.

With the exception of No. 1 choice Brien Taylor of the Yankees, who was offered $650,000, no other pitcher has been offered more than $375,000. The Milwaukee Brewers, who chose No. 5 pick Kenny Henderson, were the latest to up their bid to $375,000 and said it will be their final offer.

Soon, Hamilton may be the only remaining holdout. By Tuesday, the top three pitchers in the draft, all picked ahead of Hamilton, must decide whether they’ll enroll in college and bypass the draft.

Hamilton, the eighth choice overall, has until Sept. 19 before school starts.